Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Henna (Lawsonia inermis) has a long history of use in traditional medicine, particularly in South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. It has been applied to the scalp for various hair and scalp conditions, including seborrhea (seborrheic dermatitis), which is characterized by flaky, itchy, and sometimes oily scalp. The use of henna is based primarily on its traditional reputation for its cooling, antimicrobial, and astringent properties. Folk medicine practitioners have used henna pastes and decoctions to soothe scalp irritation, reduce excess oil, and combat dandruff, which are symptoms overlapping with seborrhea.

However, scientific evidence supporting henna’s efficacy specifically for seborrhea is limited. Some in vitro studies suggest that henna has mild antifungal and antibacterial properties, which could potentially be beneficial against the Malassezia yeast implicated in seborrheic dermatitis. Nonetheless, there are no well-conducted clinical trials that directly evaluate henna’s effectiveness for this condition. Most reported benefits are anecdotal or based on case reports. As such, while its use is embedded in tradition and there is a plausible scientific rationale (antimicrobial effects), the overall quality and quantity of evidence remain low, warranting a modest evidence rating.

More about Henna
More about Seborrhea

Other ingredients used for Seborrhea

Other health conditions supported by Henna

Products containing Henna